Why is Pre so famous? He never won gold.

Ian Stewart >>> Pre

Norpoth >>> Pre

Dixon >>> Pre

Diemer >>> Pre

Some today might underrate him as a runner. He didn't get to time trial in a frictionless vacuum set up for him like Galen... his PBs came from real races where time was secondary. But, his popularity did spike when they made movies about him.

http://bit.ly/1zcDhoK

Pre is famous because he was the best American distance runner of his f***ing era; he raced balls to the wall, not like the sit and kick tactics we see today. He was respectable. He had a genuine passion for the sport and proved that on the track. He held every american record from 2000 to 10,000 meters, you NEVER see that anymore! He had absurdly good range for his time. I hate you you for even starting this thread, your favorite runner is probably Paula Radcliffe you queer.

whiteboyorwhat?sayit wrote:

Why is Pre so famous? My vote of idolatry goes to Billy Mills. Is it because Pre was a white boy?

Because most people aren\'t so immature and calloused to fail to recognize that we all have good and bad in us. We all do good things and make mistakes. Pre made mistakes, but all that he accomplished - and the way that he did it - stands out as greatness.

In order of importance:

1. He was white

2. Spoke fluent English

3. Was a very good runner

He ran and raced in a town that was mad about track. Check out some videos of him racing at Hayward field and tell me he was not popular.

Toasted wrote:

Pre is famous because he was the best American distance runner of his f***ing era; he raced balls to the wall, not like the sit and kick tactics we see today. He was respectable. He had a genuine passion for the sport and proved that on the track. He held every american record from 2000 to 10,000 meters, you NEVER see that anymore! He had absurdly good range for his time. I hate you you for even starting this thread, your favorite runner is probably Paula Radcliffe you queer.

Perhaps you've confused Pre with Marty Liquori,

[quote]Toasted wrote:

Pre is famous because he was the best American distance runner of his f***ing era; he raced balls to the wall, not like the sit and kick tactics we see today...]

Exactly.

Back then, to a young runner Pre exemplified going all out, even if you couldn't win because you had no kick. I was not alone in despising that leech Harald Norpoth, who many times sat on Pre and then outkicked him, because the same thing happened to me in high school dual meets.

Pre exemplified the noble effort that went unrewarded. Maybe bottom-liners today don't appreciate that, but back then we sure did. I was crushed when he died.

Mark

Pre is only more legendary than Shorter and Mills because he 1) He was a trash talker [which I love] 2) He was young and would have meddled in 76 and 3) He died

jersey shore wrote:

Toasted wrote:

Pre is famous because he was the best American distance runner of his f***ing era; he raced balls to the wall, not like the sit and kick tactics we see today. He was respectable. He had a genuine passion for the sport and proved that on the track. He held every american record from 2000 to 10,000 meters, you NEVER see that anymore! He had absurdly good range for his time. I hate you you for even starting this thread, your favorite runner is probably Paula Radcliffe you queer.

Perhaps you've confused Pre with Marty Liquori,

? what part of my post made it seem like i was referring to Liquori??

TAA wrote:

In order of importance:

1. He was white

2. Spoke fluent English

3. Was a very good runner

huh?

reader of the forums wrote:

TAA wrote:

In order of importance:

1. He was white

2. Spoke fluent English

3. Was a very good runner

huh?

The list of reasons why pre is famous. I forgot to put that he died young. That's #3

Toasted wrote:

jersey shore wrote:

Perhaps you've confused Pre with Marty Liquori,

? what part of my post made it seem like i was referring to Liquori??

This part:

"was the best American distance runner of his f***ing era"

Pre4fre wrote:

2) He was young and would have meddled in 76

In what or with whom would he have meddled?

malmo wrote:[/

Complete nonsense. You're drowning in the Nike Koolaid bin.

Malmo:

Are you saying that he wasn't one of the runners of his era who tried to better conditions for fellow athletes or that his role was exaggerated?

Thank you.

not your LA teacher wrote:

[quote]Pre4fre wrote:

2) He was young and would have meddled in 76

There are numerous analyses on LR and elsewhere concluding Pre would not have 'meddled' in Montreal. The 5k would have been out of the question with a much tougher race than 72, but I could entertain a theory that he could possibly have beaten the off-form Foster for bronze in th 10k - no more. Hardly legendary on the world stage.

Here is a different analysis

jersey shore wrote:

Toasted wrote:

Pre is famous because he was the best American distance runner of his f***ing era; he raced balls to the wall, not like the sit and kick tactics we see today. He was respectable. He had a genuine passion for the sport and proved that on the track. He held every american record from 2000 to 10,000 meters, you NEVER see that anymore! He had absurdly good range for his time. I hate you you for even starting this thread, your favorite runner is probably Paula Radcliffe you queer.

Perhaps you've confused Pre with Marty Liquori,

Oooh yeah, look at Marty Liquori take down Pre in the mile here:

Someone is definitely confused.

Wow!! Thank you for sharing. Pre was and is THE MAN.